Latch



April 12,1932. G, B, DOREY 1,853,851

. LATCH Filed Feb. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-sheet 1 LKF/A v Patented Apr. 12, 1932 eEoneE BINET noRE'sr, or EvANs'roN, ILLINOIS LATCH Application iled February 6, 12218. Ser'la1 No. 252,269.

My invention relates toimprovements. in latches.

My improved latch is adapted for fastening relatively movable closure members and especially for use in connection with pivotally mounted closures ysuch as are employed with refrigerators, stoves, furnaces, ovens, ventilators or dumping doors for hopper cars, end gates for waggons and motor trucks and in fact wherever tightly and positively closed doors are necessary.

An object of my invention is to produce a latch embodying a bodily movable latch bolt and a toggle joint connection between said latch bolt and associated closure member whereby the latch bolt, when in operative latching position, will be automatically secured against bodily movement.

Another object of my invention is to utilize the greatly multiplied mechanical advantage obtained by the closing action of atoggle joint mechanism for the purpose of forcing a latch bolt into tight wedging engagement with an associated keeper having a liared opening for the reception of the latch bolt.

' Another further object of my invention is to provide a closure fastener having a movable latch bolt adapted for engagement with a keeper and to provide means whereby such latch bolt will be secured against movement when in operative latching position and further `provide means for temporarily displacing the bolt from such normally secured position for the purpose of eifecting engagement between the said latch bolt and associated keeper.

. My invention further resides in certain other details of construction and improvelarly pointed out hereinafter and claimed.

For further comprehension of my invention. reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 indicates a vertical side elevational view of a portion of a refrigerator door and door frame with my improved latch incorporated therein, the parts being shown with the door in closed position and the latch mechanism in closure retaining position. Fig. 2 is a vertical side elevational view ofthe structure illustrated ments of parts such as will be more particuin Fig. 1, the parts being shown as viewed 'fromleft to right. Fig. 3 is a view similar I to Fig. 2 except that the door is shown with i the latch bolt in latchiiig position on theo-uter side of the keeper, the parts as positioned indicate the establishment of Contact between the latch bolt and its associated keeper during the door closing operation. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 except that the closing operf ation of the door is somewhat more advanced with the toggle joint broken and the latch displaced from its latching position. Fig. 5 is a'view similar to Fig. 4 but with the door l closing operation still further advanced and the latch bolt .sufficiently displaced from its latching position to clear the keeper. is a view similar to the three preceding the retaining shoulder on the keeper. Fig. 7 is an end vertical elevational view of a dump-` views but with the latch in engagement with ing motor truck showing my improvements applied to the swinging end door.A F-ig. 8

a side fractional elevational view of the truck shown in Fig. 7 the view showing soy much of the body as necessary to show'the end door in closed and fastened position.

In the construction shown in clusive,A indicates a closure frame, B the closure, vC latch mechanism carried by the '-closure, and D a keeper carried by the clo sure frame. The latch mechanism C prefer- Figs. 1-16 inl ably` includes a supporter casing 10 having base portions 11-11 whereby the casing 'is secured to the closure as at 12. Extending outwardly from said base portions 11`11, the main body of the casing is formed ofa pan shaped. portion which includes an overlying wall portion 13 spaced .an appreciable distance from said base portlons, and verti- I cally and horizontally extending walls as indicated at 14 and 1-5 respectively, each' of the` vertical walls having an `elongated slot 16 formed therein. tire width between the vertical walls 14 and is pivotally mounted' to the casing on a pivot 18 which extends through the vertical walls A link 17 extends the en- 14 and is. riveted on the outer side thereof as shown at 19, said link is preferably formed of strip metal bent at each end to present loops as indicated at 20'and 21. Pi'voted to the lower end of th'ev link on loop 21 is a bodily movable latch bolt 22 having trunnion like portions 23 extending through the elongated slots 16, said latch bolt 22 is provided with a plurality of arms 24 through which the ivot 25'extends and whereby connection is e ected between the link and latch, the pivot 25 is disposed at an appreciable distance from the centeror axis of the trunnions thereby providing a fulcrum for the latch bolt. One of the -trunnions 23 is extended outwardl beyond the casing and beyond the edge o the closure with which'said latch mechanism is associated for the purpose of engaging with the keeper D, and beyond said keeper engaging portion of the bolt there is a finger 26 xed relatively to the said bolt for the purpose hereinafter described. The opposite end of said latch bolt is provided with'an operating handle 27 which is adapted to gravitate by its own weight to a substantially vertical position and assist to maintain the latch bolt in the lower portion of the slots. A torsion spring 28 is wound around pivot 25 and the ends of said spring 29 and 30 respectively abut against the ling 17 and latch bolt 22, the torsion in the s rmg tending to open the joint between the link and ,bolt and thus positively maintain the latch bolt 1n the lower portion of the slots.

The keeper D is provided with a hase portion 31 whereby attachment is effected with the closure frame A and a web 32 extends outwardly from said base portion, said web having a shoulder 33 which tapers outwardly and upwardly as indicated at 34, thus .presenting a flared opening for the reception of the latch bolt 22. On the outer side of the keeper a lateral extension 35 extends in the path of movement of. the finger 26.

vAssuming the latch bolt to bepositioned in the lower portion of the slots 16 as the closure'is moved towards closed position, the operation of the mechanism is as follows the closure is moved towards the keeper until the finger 26, which is curved as indicated at 36, engages with the extension 35 on the keeper as indicated in Fig. 3. Continued movement of the closure in a closing direction will rotate the latch bolt causing pivotal movement thereof about the fulcrum 25 with a. consequent bodily movement of the said latch bolt as-indicated in Fig. 4. Further turning movement of the latch bolt is continued untilsuch time as the t-runnion 23 is elevated sufiiciently to pass above the shoulder of the keeper D as indicated' in Fig.

V5, when further lmovement of the closure allows the latch bolt to drop rearwardly of the shoulder as indicated 1n Fig. 6, from which position the torsion `of the spring28 combined with the weight of the latch'bolt' and its associated handle'will force the latch bolt downwardly into the notch forcing the closure still more tightly closed by reason of the flared entrance presented by the tapering shoulder. Should extraordinarily tight door joints be required as in connection with refrigerators, it will be understood that the tension of the spring and the weightV o f the parts will hardly suffice to force the latch bolt to its final closed position but sufficient turning movement will be exerted to bring the latch trunnion rearwardly of the shoulder and maintain the closure in a partially :closed position, from which position a relaanism maintains the latch against bodily displacement unless such movement be positively initiated by a rotary movement of the latch bolt. In the final latchin `position of the latch bolt, as will be seen y reference to Fig. 2, the fulcrum 25 at the junction of the link and latch bolt lies in a straight line on dead center between the axis of trunnion 23 and the pivot 18 of the link with the casing, thus making the latch mechanism self securing and providing the-extreme possible multiplication of ower to force the latch bolt to its final latc ing position. The keeper D is beveled on its upper surface as indicated at 37, and between said bevel and the shoulder there is a flat portion 38 on which the trunnion 23 is adapted to ride before making contact with the shoulder 33, the function of said bevel and flatn portion bein for the purpose of sustaining the latchA bo t in its open position independently of the 35 on the keeper, and thus provide sufficient clearance between the extreme end of the finger 26 and the lateral extension 35 on the keeper preventing fouling of the parts on the opening movement of the closure.

To open the closure from the position in Fig. 2, the handle 27 is moved outwardly thus turning the latch bolt and imparting a bodily movement thereto in an` u ward bolt direction until such time asthe latc will contact with the upper portion of the slots 16 at which time the handle will be in a substantially horizontal direction and a orward pull on said handlewill open the oor. l

It will thus be seen that my improved latch consists of only a few parts', is automatic in operation, secured against bodily movement in its closed position and can only be released in the authorized manner, that is, by exerting a turning movement on the handle.

In the embodiment of my invention shown 13 vof a plate 100 and lin Figs. 7 and 8 my improvements are shown as applied to the swinging end gate of a dumping motor truck. In-said drawings A indicates 4the side walls, Bthe end gate, C a keeper, D the latch mechanism and E indicates a pivoted cam adapted to engage with the latch bolt or rod. Each side A is formed j top and bottom marginal reinforcements as indicated at 101 and 102 respectively, said top reinforcement having a hinge butt 103 for the end gate. The en d` gate Bis formed of a plate 104 having horizontally extending marginal reinforcing iianges as indicated at 105 and 106 respectively and vertically extending marginal reinforcing flanges as shown at 107. Therey are two keepers C per end gate and a latch mechanisnrD associated with each keeper but as vthe construction is the same at each end of the gate, the descriptionhereinafter follow- 4ing will be confined to one end only. The

keeper C is formed with a flared recess having a shoulder 108 and a laterally extending projection 109 extending outwardly therefrom, said keeper being preferably secured to the related side wall A by means of rivets 110. The latch mechanism D includes a housing 111 having walls 112 and 113 spaced apart,

*u the latter being extended lbeyondwall 112 and formed with an elongated slot 114, said housing is secured to the end gate by means of rivets as indicated at 115 and 116. Pivotally mounted between said walls `ron pivot 117 is a link member 118 and pivoted to said link is a latch member 119 which is formed with double arms 1204-120 which straddle the link 118. Outwardly of said arms 120 there is a trunnion portion 121 which extends through the slot 114 and engages with the shoulder 108 of the keeper C and beyond the said keeper engaging portion of the trun'nion there is fixedly mounted on the latch a curved finger 122 adapted to engage with the projection 109 on the keeper for'the purposeof inducing a rotary movement of the latch mechanism as the end gate is moved towards closed position. The latch mechanisms at the respective ends of the gate are caused to function in unison by a shaft 123 which extends throughr the said latch members and is rigidly united therewith, said shaft is preferably of square c section and on one end thereof an operati-ng handle 124 is mounted'and the opposite end r position may be omitted in view of the additional weight provided'by the shaft 123.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my invention it is to be understood that the same aremerely lillustrative and I contemplate all modifications which come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is: I

1. As an article of manufacture, a latch mechanism including: a keeper and a latch device having a housing and toggle link mechanism formed of two members, one of such members including'a link pivoted to the housing and the other of such members being bodily' movable and fulcrumed to the link; guiding means acting Qn the bodily device having a latch element eng-ageable with the keeper, said latch device including: a housing; a link pivoted to the housing; a lever pivotally connected to the link, said 1ever .having the keeper engaging latch element fixed relatively thereto and movable in unison with the lever; slots in the housing for causing the latch element to travel in a noncircularvpath said link and lever cooperating to form a toggle joint adapted to automatically maintain the latch element against bodily movement; and means for operating the toggle joint by a turning movement of the lever.

3. As .an article of manufacture, a latching device includin a keeper and latching mechanism having a atch element engageable with the keeper, said latch mechanism including: a support; a link pivoted to the support.; a lever fulcrumed at one of its ends to the link,

said lever having an operating handle extending outwardly from the fulcrum and a trunnion extending laterally from said lever, said trunnion being disposed intermediatethe fulcrum and the operating handle and constituting the latch element; and an elongated slot on the support within'which the trunnon is adapted to have reciprocatory movement, said of the shaft is extended beyond its associated link and lever cooperating to form a toggle latch member for the purpose of providing a' suitable extension which may be engaged by a wrench or other operating tool for rotating the shaft. Cooperating with said shaft to further secure the same against bodily movement is the cam E which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 125 on pivot 126. N,

' The cycle of operations is similarto that dscribed in connection withA the 4embodiment j illustrated in Figs. 1 to `6 inclusive except that the springfor forcing the parts to closed 4. As an article of manufacture,alatching I device including a shouldered keeper and latching mechanismhaving a latchA element f formed with a locking portion adapted to engage with and seat rearwardly of the shoulder on the keeper, said element being adapted to `automatically. assume a latching position,

said latching device including' a support; al

lever fulcrumed` at one of its ends relatively to the support and having an operatin handle on the outer end of said lever, sai lever having the shoulder engaging portion fixed relatively theretoand disposed intermediate the fulcrumand handle; and guideways associated with the support within which lthe said latch element is adapted to have reciprocatory movement on movement of the lever;

5. In a latching device, the combination with a closure frame and a closure; of a shouldered keeper mounted on one of said parts; and latch mechanism mounted on the other ofsaid parts, said latch mechanism including: a support; a link pivoted to the support; a lever fulorumed at one of its ends to the link;

and having an operating-handle outstanding from said fulcrum, said lever having a latch element fixed relatively thereto and formed with a latching portion disposed intermediate the fulcrum and handle, said latching portion being adapted to seat rearwardly of the shoulder of the keeper to maintain the closure in operative latching position; elongated slots on the support within which the said element is adapted to have reciprocatory movement on movement of the lever; said link and lever in cooperation with the guideways forming a toggle joint to maintain the-latch element in latching position; and a resilient element acting on the link and lever to urge the latch into latching position.

6. In a latching evice, the combination witha closure frame having an opening and a closure for sealing the opening of a kee er carried by one of the arts; a bodily mova le latch member carried by the other of' said parts and cooperable with the keeper foi,` maintaining the closure in fastened position; and means for imparting a movement of translation tothe latch member by a turning movement of the said latch member, said means embodying a variable leverage connection between the -latch member and the closure member on which said latch member isv mounted whereby an increasing ratio of mechanical advantage is obtained as the latch member is urged towards final adjusted position.

7. In a latching device, the combination with a closure frame and a closure; of a keepver mounted on one of said parts; a support mounted on the other of said parts, said support' having elongated guideways formed therein; a link pivoted to the support, said link being disposed intermediate the guideways; and a bodily movable latch` member pivoted to the link, said member including axially aligned trunnions, said respective trunnions extending through the elongated guideways on the support, one of said trunnions being adapted to engage with the keeper for maintaining the closure in fastened Sposition and the other of said trunnions hav-- ing an operating handle fixed relatively 1,sas,aa1

thereto, said trunnions being adapted to have movement in the guideways on movement of the handle.

8. In a latching device, the combination with a closure frame and a movable closure; of 'a keeper mounted on one of said parts; a support mounted on the other of said parts; a link pivoted to the support; a bodil movable latch member ivoted to the. lin said last-named member aving a ortion extending beyond the associated c osure member and adapted for engagement with the keeper for maintaining the closure in closed position; guiding means associated with the support and latch member for maintaining the latter against movement in the direction of movement of the closure; and means for normally urging the latch into latching position,

said means being adapted to automatically maintain the latch against bodily movement when in operative latching position other than by a turning movement of said latch member.

9., In a latching device, the combination with a closure frame and a closure; of a keeper mounted on one of said parts; a link pivotally mounted on the other of said parts; a bodily movable latch pivotally attached to the link, said latch being adapted to engage with the keeper to maintain the closure in closed position; guiding means for maintaining the latch against movement in the direc- `ment with the keeper on the frame, said element being adapted to be moved into engagement with the keeper by a turning movement of the said latch element; and means for restricting lengthwise movement of the latch element whereby the extent of latch projectlng beyond the edge of the closure will be constant throughout the entire movement of the latch element.

1l. As an article of manufacture, a latch mechanism including: a shouldered keeper and a latch device, said latch device having a latching portion engageable with the shoulder of the keeper; said latch device including: a base member, a link pivoted to the base member, a lever pivotally connected to the link, said lever having the shoulder engaging ortion fixed relatively thereto and movable 1n unison with the lever; and guiding means associated with the base member and the shoulder engaging portion of the latch member for confining the path of movement of the latter Within a predetermined path.

12. In a latch mechanism for a door adapted to close an openin ,the combination With a'door frame; of a {eeper 'carried by one of the parts and a, latch carried by the other of the parts, said latch having a keeper engaging portion adapted to move into engagement With the keeper for retaining the door in closed position; means for confining the movable latch portion to a given path; and means adapted to automatically assume a position in the path of movement of the movable part of the latch to'restrain the latter against movement in an opening direction.

13. In' a latching device, the combination with a closure frame and a closure; of a `keeper mounted on one of said parts; and a latching element mounted on the other of said parts, said element being adapted to have v al bodily movement relatively to its associated closure member; a link pivotally mounted on the closure member on Which'the latching element is mounted, said link being pivotally united with the latchingr element; guiding 'means for restricting the latching element to a straight line path during its bodily movement; said latching element being adapted to engage the keeper for maintainin the closure in closed position, said link and latching element co-operating to form a toggle. joint for maintaining the latch element in latching position; and means associated with the keeper and latching element for breaking the toggle joint and displacing the latching element from its latching position as the closure is moved towards closed position.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 23rd day of January, 1928.

GEORGE BINET DOREY. 

